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NWSL kicks off 2026 with cross-country clash

The NWSL is kicking off 2026 with a double espresso, as Sophia Wilson and the Thorns visit Trinity Rodman and the Spirit in tonight’s 2026 season opener.

• The match is expected to feature Wilson’s regular-season return, after Portland’s recently re-signed star took the field for the first time since 2024 in a preseason friendly last week.

• “Obviously I’m being very patient with myself,” the new mom said ahead of tonight’s clash. “I’ve just been so eager to get my first game minutes, so I feel like I checked that box. I feel good.”

Shifting lines: Washington superstar Trinity Rodman will aim to spoil her USWNT counterpart’s big moment, as the world’s newly minted highest paid women’s footballer hits the pitch after offseason uncertainty.

• “At the end of the day, we need to help her be as unpredictable as possible, and help her develop both personally and professionally,” Washington manager Adrian Gonzalez said of his franchise player.

• Both teams will also be navigating high-profile midfield departures, after 2025 Thorns captain Sam Coffey signed with Manchester City and Spirit centerpiece Croix Bethune transferred to Kansas City.

Tune in: Washington hosts Portland tonight at 8 PM ET, live on Prime.

Champion Gotham welcomes Boston to the league

Gotham FC will start the 2026 season flying high, as the reigning NWSL champs look to rev up a regional rivalry against expansion side Boston on Saturday.

• “There’s a target on your back, but that’s what’s really fun about this league,” Gotham’s Lilly Reale told amNewYork. “You want as much pressure and for the stakes to be as high as possible.”

• “We want to just play free, we want to have fun, and show something about football that is not always seen in this league,” said Boston’s Nichelle Prince.

Superteam loading: Gotham added another stellar contributor to its stacked roster this week, as the Bats officially signed Chelsea and Norway star Guro Reiten.

• The six-time WSL champion will join the NWSL side on loan through July, before entering into a pre-arranged contract running through 2029.

• “Her experience competing for major trophies with Chelsea and her impact with the Norwegian national team will bring valuable leadership and attacking creativity to our squad,” said Gotham GM Yael Averbuch West. (See full release)

Tune in: Gotham and Boston square off on Saturday at 12:30 PM ET, live on ABC.

Denver gears up for a grand opening in the Bay

Saturday’s NWSL lineup brings even more fireworks, as 2026 newcomer Denver looks to lay a foundation against 2024 expansion team Bay FC.

• Led by former Manchester City manager Nick Cushing, the Summit gets its first taste of NWSL action in California before heading home to set what’s expected to be a new single-game attendance record at Mile High Stadium.

• “Our expectation is to win a championship,” Summit defender and Colorado native Janine Sonis told the Denver Gazette. “We want to win, and we want to win doing what we do well.” (See full report)

Taking stock: Denver will hit the pitch without its flashiest signing, with US captain Lindsey Heaps remaining with France’s OL Lyonnes until the second half of the NWSL season.

• One splashy midfield addition should make an appearance, after Bay FC brought in former KC Current star Claire Hutton to shore up its ranks.

• “A big piece of me coming onto the team is seeing what they need from me and seeing what else I can bring,” Hutton told the Times Union. “Each player has a specific role and identity on the team.” (See full report)

Tune in: Bay FC takes on Denver this Saturday at 6:30 PM ET, live on ION.

JWS’s all-new basketball show is back, as Court Vision presented by Planet Fitness showcases WNBA icon Angel McCoughtry and analyst Ros Gold-Onwude tackling women’s basketball’s biggest headlines, from college to the pros to the broader forces shaping today’s game.

• In this week’s episode, Ros and Angel break down the WNBA’s latest CBA (non)update before diving into conference tournament chaos, including Louisville’s heartbreaking ACC loss and Texas’s SEC statement win.

• Plus, the pair attempts to settle the NCAA’s hottest debate: Who should REALLY be the No. 1 overall seed — UCLA or UConn?

Tune in: Check out Court Vision on YouTube.

WNBA continues marathon CBA talks

The WNBA and WNBPA are still at odds, as three consecutive days of marathon negotiations have yet to yield a new CBA agreement.

• The league’s latest proposal reportedly includes a $6.2 million year-one salary cap, with a $1.3 million 2026 maximum contract.

• While numbers appear to be on the rise, revenue sharing remains unclear, after differing models emerged as a wedge issue between the two parties. (See full report)

Big picture: While negotiations have blown past the league’s March 10th deadline, no 2026 season schedule changes have been announced as of this morning.

• “We haven’t ever really considered that as a timeline that has been something to prioritize on our side, because we have always been negotiating in good faith,” WNBPA president Nneka Ogwumike said of the missed deadline.

NCAA teams count down to Selection Sunday

Selection Sunday arrives this weekend, as college basketball’s top performers prepare to learn their NCAA tournament fates.

• After going undefeated in 2025/26, defending champion No. 1 UConn is expected to take No. 1 overall seed, while No. 2 UCLA also guns for top-seeded entry after running the Big Ten table.

• The final two No. 1 seeds will likely go to SEC title game opponents No. 3 Texas and No. 4 South Carolina, with No. 5 LSU and No. 6 Vanderbilt on the outside looking in after clunky conference tournaments. (See full rankings)

Setting the field: The 68-team bracket’s top four seeds will host the tournament’s opening weekend, while mid-major standouts like South Dakota State, Samford, Colorado State, and Fairfield join the Power Four titans via automatic bids.

Don’t miss it: Selection Sunday tips off at 8 PM ET, live on ESPN.

Number of the day

3.6 billion

ESPN delivered the most-watched women’s college basketball regular season since 2008/09 this year, reporting a record-3.6 billion total minutes viewed.